File for papers and cards.



No. 791,024 v "PATENTED MAY 30, 1905.

T. P.-GOWER. 1 FILE FOR PAPERS AND cums.

APBLIGATIQN FILED FEB. 10, 1904.

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Patented May 30, 1905.

PATENT ()FFICE.

THOMAS P. GOWVER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FILE FOR PAPERS AND CARDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,024, dated May 30, 1905.

Application filed February 10, 1904. Serial No. 193,023.

To all whom 111; may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. GrowER, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Files for Papers and Cards, of which the followingisa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in files for papers and cards.

The object of the said invention is to provide a file for papers and cards having a follower which is immovable by pressure of the letters or other papers contained in the file or by the motion of shutting the drawer, whereby the contents remain in the desired position until disturbed or removed by one desiring to inspect them, said invention being illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth and pointed out in the following specification and appended claims.

As to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of the said file with one side of the drawer removed, so. as to allow an unobstructed view of the follower. Fig. 2 represents a transverse section through the drawer, showing the front of said follower. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device.

2 represents the plate sustained by angular support3 and secured to the base-strip 4:, which runs in the slot formed by the separate bottoms of the drawer 8 and 9. Upon strip A is the axially-movable button 5 and underneath the same another such button, 7. In Fig. 2 the piece 4, riding in the slot, is shown to be narrower than the slot, allowing a free longitudinal movement therein, and the support 3 to be slightly wider than the slot, thus preventing it from slipping through such slot. The said buttons are centrally pivoted, as shown in Fig. 1 by dotted lines, and turn for the securing of the file.

The purpose of button 5 is to assist in the support of the follower; yet the device may be used without such button, if preferred.

The holding principle of said follower is the pressure and leverage of the same at the rear edge of the button 5, as shown in Fig. 1, as exercised against button 7, the necessity for grip being obviated. I have been accustomed of the use of button 7.

l to form the slot by use of separate boards; but

the same may be formed by the cutting of a channel in one piece of material, if desired. Among the advantages of said follower is absence of sticking in attempting its movement, which has been found Very objectionable in other files heretofore used which have been operated by complicated arrangements of springs, rods, and devices. Should button 5 be omitted from the device, its pressure or leverage would be at the back extremity of support 3. The durability of the device is secured by the angular support 3, which gives it the desired rigidity.

It will be observed by'an inspection of Fig. 2 that the drawer which I prefer to use for the file has its base slightly higher than the lower edges of the side pieces, so as to allow The form of the top of the plate 2 is optional; but such form shown in the drawings by reason of its convexity at the top gives a ready hold or grip of the same when it is desired to operate the device for the purpose of moving it forward or backward. When the plate 2 is grasped by the hand for the purpose of being moved, it 0perates with the ease of a pendulum and becomes absolutely firm when allowed to rest. The follower is adapted for use in a drawer, box, or other container'or on a table, frame, or shelf. The buttons 5 and 7 are preferably somewhat beveled at the corners, as shown in the drawings.

Having thus described-my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A file for papers and cards comprising a carrier an inclined plate an angular support for said plate, a guide for said plate and support adapted to move in a central slot in said carrier, a front button to secure said follower to the carrier and a rear button to assist in the support of the follower substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A file for papers and cards comprising a carrier a flat plate, a rear support for said plate, a base-guide for said plate and support adapted to move in a longitudinal depression in said carrier for the same, a button underbutton to assist in the support of the follower, 10 substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

THOMAS P. GOWER.

Witnesses:

T. D. EDDY, W. A. SIEBE. 

